-Racing Madrid to cover salary of technical staff
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has named a new Head Coach for the Junior Jaguars, the national U17 Boys Team, ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers in Costa Rica. The qualifiers are scheduled for February 7–16.
In a press release to the media, the GFF revealed that Marco Bonofiglio, an experienced coach with over 25 years in professional football, is set to take the helm.
Bonofiglio’s coaching background includes roles with ProStars FC and Pickering FC in League 1 Ontario, as well as notable successes in Italy’s Serie C system.
The move is a result of the GFF’s partnership with Spanish club Racing Madrid, which aims to enhance the Junior Jaguars’ technical framework. Alongside Bonofiglio, two other professionals are expected to join the team.
He will be joined by Ahjton Roberts, a seasoned Strength and Conditioning Coach, who specializes in injury prevention and sport-specific training. Roberts, who founded the 180° High Performance Program, has worked with athletes at national and Olympic levels. Meanwhile, Dr. Steve Gennaro, a sports science and performance analysis expert, is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge from his academic and coaching career across North America and Europe.
Racing Madrid’s collaboration with the GFF includes covering the salaries of these technical staff members, while the GFF will manage their travel and local expenses.
Racing Madrid President Steve Nijjar emphasized the importance of the collaboration, expressing optimism about the Junior Jaguars’ potential and the broader impact of the partnership. “We are excited to support the GFF in their efforts to prepare the team for the FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers,” he said. “Our goal is to create a high-performance environment that benefits not only the players but also the local coaching staff.”
GFF President Wayne Forde highlighted the value of the partnership, noting, “This collaboration is about more than preparing the team for competition; it’s about building a legacy for youth football development in Guyana. The expertise brought in through this partnership will significantly strengthen our programme for years to come.”
As the Junior Jaguars continue their preparation for the upcoming qualifiers, the addition of top-tier technical expertise is expected to enhance their performance and contribute to the long-term growth of football in Guyana.
On the other hand, the National Senior Men’s team, the Golden Jaguars, are still without a Head Coach, and the GFF has not issued any information on the situation since advertising for the vacancy late last year.
